William d



No. 612,470; Patented Oct. I8, I898.

W'. D. WIDDERS.

CAR COUPLING.

(Applicatiun filed Apr. 18, 1898.) (N0 Model MN... I

IVILLIAM D. WVIDDERS, OF FAIRLAND, INDIAN TERRITORY.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 612,470, dated October18, 1898. I Application filed April 18, 1898. Serial No, 678,021. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM D. WIDDERS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Fairland, in the Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Oar-Couplers; and I dodeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

The invention has relation to car-couplers, and more particularly tothat class of couplers of the star-wheel-detent type.

The object of the invention is to providea car-coupler of this type thatshall be simple in construction, durable in use, and comparativelyinexpensive of production; one that will couple and uncouple under allconditions, whether on a straight or curved track; one that is alwaysset for coupling, and one that may be coupled with cars employing eitherthe Janney or the link-and-pin types of I couplers.

WVith these objects in view the invention consists in certain featuresof construction and combination of parts, which will be hereinafterfully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of myimprovedcouplers,showing them in the act of being coupled. Fig. 2'

is a similar view showing them coupled and showing in dotted lines thewide range of lateral movement allowed. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectionalview through the draw-head and star-wheel detent and its locking-dog.Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of one of the star-wheel detents,and Fig. 5 is a similar view of one of the locking-dogs.

In said drawings, 1 denotes the draw-heads, each of which may be cast inone solid piece. Each draw-head is provided with two rigid jaws 2 and 3,respectively, the latter of which is provided with an opening at, havinga narrow slot t at the rear thereof and communicating therewith. Pivotedbetween the ears of the opening lis a star-wheel detent 5, whichconsists of a hub 6, having radial wings 7 slightly hooked, as shown at8, and provided with link-slots 9 and pin-openings 10.

11 denotes the releasing-dog, the shank 12 of which is pivoted in theslot 1 of the draw head and the head 13 of which engages and locks thestar-wheel against rotation. A stud 14 projects outward from the shankof the dog and is adapted to be connected with any suitable mechanismfor operating the dog. As the particular kind of mechanism forms no'partof my invention I have not deemed it necessary either to illustrate ordescribe it.

In operation as the two draw-heads come together the web ofone'star-wheel will strike the other and pass by the same, one of thestar-wheels revolving upon its pivot to permit the other one to enterbetween the jaws of the draw-head. In this position the two heads of thecoupler will be secured together and cannot separate until thereleasing-dog is actuated. When this is done, the drawheads may beseparated.

The J anney type of car-coupler may be engaged with my improved coupler,and by slotting the webs of the star-wheel detents and forming pin-holestherein I may make a couple with a car having the oldform ofpin-ancl-link coupler.

From' the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the inventionwill be apparentwithout requiring an extended explanation. I

The coupler consists of but few parts, which are strong and durable andnot liable to get out of order, and owing to its extreme simplicity thecouplers may be manufactured at comparatively small cost.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is

In combination, the draw-head formed with the integral parallel jaws 2and 3, the jaw 3 being formed with an opening a and a communicating slot4, the star-wheel 5 j ournaled in the opening 4 and formed with thehooked radial wings 7 8, each provided with the link slots 9 andthepin-openings 10, the dog 11 fulcrumed in the opening 4: and slot 4:and having its enlarged. head 13 projecting into the path of the wingson said star-wheel and having its spring-actuated shank 12 provided witha lateralstud 14 extending through said nesses.

I WM. D.NVIDDERS.

Witnesses: I

W, A. Cnooknrn W. M. WILSON.

